Indiana-based Americana outfit The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band offers a refreshing blend of honest lyrics, authentic rock, and talented instrumentation, especially on itslatest record Between The Ditches. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is comprised of The Rev. J. Peyton, his wife Breezy, and drummer Ben Bussell. Rev Peyton plays a unique and extremely difficult form of guitar called fingerstyle, which involves using each of the fingers on the right hand to play independently, allowing the guitarist to play multiple parts simultaneously and creating the audio illusion that there is more than one person playing guitar. Known for its scintillating live show, the band has been on Warped Tour multiple times, and has also shared the stage with Flogging Molly, Reverend Horton Heat, Derek Trucks, Mofro and more. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will perform at The Bluebird Theater in Denver on Friday October 4. I was able to catch up with Rev Peyton, who kindly filled me in on performing in the Mile High City, the new record, and drawing song inspiration from screen doors and mosquitoes.

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How do you like performing in Denver? Are the fans good to you? Does the altitude really affect you?

Denver really is a great music town. No BS, I love coming to play in Denver. The fans are great, there are a ton of great venues. The altitude in Denver isn't so bad. Sometimes you can feel it, but it isn't near as bad as some of the ski towns higher up. Never seems to affect the show. The music fans maybe make up for it!

The music video for "Big Blue Chevy '72" is spectacular. How did the concept for that come about? How long did it take to create

Thanks so much, but that was entirely created in the mind of Terry Border of Bent Objects art fame. He approached us, and we were really excited. I think that it hasn't received near the attention it has deserved. Our other videos like "Devils Look Like Angels" have way more views, but I love what he did for us. And it is all animated!

What was the goal of your latest album Between The Ditches?

No concept or anything, we just wanted to make a record that was a collection of great songs.

Are there any songs on the album that you were initially weary of releasing, whether it's because it took the band in a new direction or you weren't sure how people will react?

Not really. When it comes to the music, we have to go where our heart and the art takes us. I won't put a song out that I don't believe in.

What is the strangest thing to inspire a song?

On the new record, probably "Shut the Screen." Screen doors and mosquitoes. I let all kinda of things inspire songs. I don't ever want to be someone that just writes about one thing.

What is the ideal setting for you to write the perfect song?

I don't know why, but I write a lot of songs very late at night. Maybe it is the calm. Maybe it is the solitude.

What is one thing you can't do without while you're on the road?

A good backpack and a good knife.

If you could have anyone in the world as the #1 fan of your band, who would it be and why?

Don't miss The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band at the Bluebird on Friday, October 4. Tickets to the 16 and over show are $20.75 in advance or $25 at the door. Doors open at 8:00pm and the show starts at 9:00pm. Leopold & His Fiction and Shooter Jennings will also perform.

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This is Laura and she's addicted to music. She writes about the music scene in Denver because it is so scintillating and alive - and she throws herself enthusiastically into the middle of it! Follow Laura at the Music Examiners page on Facebook.